Tractor



W. T. JAMES June 4, 1929.

TRACTOR 3 Sheets-She et 2/ W. T. JAMES TRACTOR o o o 0 D o o O O C C r Cn 5 o O O o o O o D o o O O O o o O 0 D o o O O o 0 8 NA Nu m \N %w 0 01| ll j N m 0 m o O \m 0 wm m fiwfln H. H I

June 4, 1929.

Filed Nov. 27, 1918 W. T. JAMES June 4, 1929.

TRACTOR s Sheets-Sheet 5 .F'iled Nov. 27, 1918 J torygearing as PatentedJune 4, 1929:.

T i in c.

w t-LI M 'ILJAMES, or GHICAGO IL i TRACTOR;

I Application filed November 27, 1918,- Seria1 No..264,303..

My present invention relates in general to automotive vehicles,self-contained prime movers used for pur poses of traction, 5 to theprovision of a novel and improved type r of vehicle especially adaptedfor work on uneven or yielding surfaces such as roadways or vsoft 0rploughed fields. i v The principal objects ofmy present inven-' tion arebroadly the driving vehicle mechanism. whereby skidding or slippage isavoided; means for positively driving both of the rearwheels of avehicle;

. the provision of means whereby the vehicle may bev steered by means ofthe method of driving the driving wheels; the provision of means wherebythe-vehicle may be steered v through differential actuation of thedriving wheels; the provlsion of an improved form of steering mechanismin a vehicle employing diiferential gearing whereby it may be turnedthrough the employment of certain auxiliaries to chiferentlal gearing ors milar compensatory device the provision of an improved i 5 form ofvehicle characterized by the fact that 1 all of the vehicle wheels aremaintained in predetermined position and that none of them are movedlaterally relatively to any ofthe others in changing the course of thevehicle,

and more specifically of. a vehicle, the-provision in automotive ve-.hicles of driving means wherein 1s employed a rigid front axle, theprovision of means for *5 eliminating actual manualturning of the pairof wheels may be ClIlVGIl'lIl unison at different or with the sameperipheral rate of speed as the other lateral pair ;'the provision ofmeans for attaining any desired turning radius with. an equal travel ofthe steering wheels; the provision'of means for steering a vehiclethrough clutch manipulation; the

provision ofimproved means for driving the,

front wheels directly from the same source of power as of means fordriving the front wheels of a vehicle from the samediiferentialorcompensa-jf the vrear giwheels, :together, i

more particularly toand has special reference provision of improvedindicated by the arrow;

seen in Figure 2 the -.provision of improved means for driving all ofthe Wheels the -rear wheels; the provisionwith such other objects as mayhereinafter appear. In attaining the objects referred to, together-withcertain-additional benefits andadvantages to be below point'ed out,Lhave provided a construction, one embodiment whereofin the form of aroad or field tractor i I is disclosed in the .accomp anying drawingswhereini I j I p Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section,villustrative of a vehicle embodying my present improvements; i I Figure'2 is' aside elevationalview of the structure. ofF-igure 1, -ce,rta'inof the ,parts' beingbrokenaw'ay; 1 Figure 3 is-a fragmentary view,partly in vertical section, of a detail of construction, the same beingtaken on the line 3-'3 inFi'gure 1 and viewing theparts in the directionI Figure tis a fragmentary'view partly in vertical section,-of. a.det'ailof construction, certain of the elementsof which areto be jFigure 5 isa side elevational view in certain. respects similar toFigure '2, illustrative of a modified form of construction. 1

. Referringfirst more part ularly to Figure 1, wherein thedetails of thepower driving. mechanism, with the drive connections from the rear tothe front of the vehicle, 1 are perhaps more clearly'shown, it will beobservedr'that Iemploy inthe chassisframe members indicated at '1,adivided frontax'le st'ructure comprising coaxial revoluble ele-i inents 3-1;:and 37, a d v ded rear axlestr'ucture comprlslngrevolublecoaxial elements. 1 7 and I 24, the "front axle-elements [havingfixedagainst relative rotation thereon traction wheels sand the rear aXleelementsEbeing h similarly, providedwith traction wheels 6. The frontaxle andthedriving mechanism 1 therefor is enclosedin a housing 3,and'the rear axleand the driving-umechanism1s-en-' closed in afhousing4, the chassis 1 being supported upon said housings by 'means *ofsprlngs 2. i

The housing 3is reduced in size between its ends to provide spaceandclear-micev forthe motor 7 wh1ch may be an internal combustione g 1 8e'prime-mover of the vehicle, 1

deli vering its'motivepowerthrough the shaft? 8; and speed changegearingdisposed inthe housing 9. which is, supported'bytransverse 11o beams 1-1from the, chassis frame members'. Th'espeed change. gearing beef any. ja

suitable type preferably such for example as the one disclosed in myco-pendlng appl cation for patent Serial No. 188,950 wherein I employtwo shafts disposed in the same vertical plane,,the lower one 12 beingadapted to iary and compensatory gearing for actuating the combined rearand front wheel drive shafts in 'a manner to'be below more fullydescribed. V v v 'The bevel pinion at15' is arranged to drive the bevel;gear16 formed on the differential.

gear housing'20whichsupports a' shaft 23 at the ends of which aredisposed bevel gears 19 and22 for driving thevbevel gears 21 and 18 andthe rear axle shafts 24Pand 17. i

The shafts 24 and 17 are'provided with bevel gears 25 and 32' meshingwith pinions 26 and'33 on the shafts 27 and 3% which carry spur gears 39and 42 engaging-thespur gear 41 whereby I'prov1de means-for drivingsaldaxle elements 2 1 and 17 at different speeds, in-

other through gears 39 and 42, they are carried on clutch;

dependently,- and controlled relatively to each housing 20. v g n a Forcontrollingthe dr ving effect of; the

" drum-elements 38 and43 freely revoluble on Hand 63 respectively areconnected by'm'eans of actuating rods 51 and 61 to actuating arms 52 and59 on ashaft 53 carried in a bra'cl'iet;

the shafts 27 and 3 For'positively'driving the drums 38and43',jtheshafts 27 and-34 engage multiple-disc supporting members 44and 68 by means of keys 44 and 68 andthe customary sliding sleeves 4:5and '67 which latteractuate the discs and in turn-are actuated byelements 46-and 65' non-rotatably mounted on the transverse shafts 47.and-g63 which are supported by-housingsifi and 64; Lever arms 49 and 62mounted on the, shafts 54'j supported by the speed changefgearinghous1ng'9.- The shaft 53 hasa controlling arm 55 operable by'a crank arm57 on the steering post 58 which may be rotated by the I thereby drthesliding pin 56.

steeringwheel 58 flexible connection be-- tween the arms 55 and 57 beingestablishedlby At the forward end of the vehiclefth'e shafts27 and 34are'pro vided with bevel gears 28and 35 respectively meshing with gears29 and 36 fixed on the shafts 31 and 37 which are iven in unison andcaused to rev'olve simultaneouslywith the shafts 24;:and

. respectively,

17 respectively at all times I p 7 On examination of Figure 1, it willbe noted that the front and rear wheels, and 6 sprockets 69'fand 72 thegears, in the differential i i tivoly driven throughthe' v shafts 27 and3 1 respectivelywh'en the clutch driven simultaneously 7 out. '5

p on each side are connected by chains 71 .and'74 and on inspectiono'ffFigurewhich the chains'engage are likewise of the p same size. v v

Furthermore, 1t Wlll be apparent on inspection of Figure 1 that thegearsand 29 and pinions 26 and :28 are of the same proportional sizes, andthat the gears 32 and 36 and pmions 33 and are of the sameproportionalsizes so that when the shafts 27 and'34 are driven, 8

each lateral pair of wheels 5 at the'same rate of speed.

Referring'now more particularly to Figure 5-, it will be observedithat Ihave here shown a modified form of construction wherei sprockets such asare indicatedlat" 76 are mounted on the shafts 1'2 and 24 (in lieu ofrear wheels 6) and that theviehicle is supported by rear wheels 81mounted on a sta and 6 are driven ti'onary'axle 7 Swhich sustains thechassis by c mechanisms 38 and 43 respectivelyare operdriving chains 71and 74 the lateral pairs of hand sideof' the vehicle resp'ectively' areI .and;in unison'when the vehlcle is proceeding is driven through aated, and th'at'a't all times byvirtue of the if front and rearwheels,on the right and left in a Straight'line.

l/Vh'en, however, it isdesired to drive the w is turned to the right,

"'hicle ona curvilinear path, isay -to the right, the steering wheel 58clutch 38 is operated FOIlSblllCtlOll above describedythe clutch 4-3 isreleased, to the end that power is delivered s and by virtue of the H tothat one of the" auxiliary shaftswhich is indicatedvat 27. Thisprocedure drives the,

left-hand side of the vehicle at a' rnore rapid rate of speed than theright-hand side, even c though power is stilldelivored throu shaft 14-.I When, however, it is desired to. turn the course of the vehicleto'theleft, the converse From the foregoing ther 1 be I evident that theentire steering is performedbyapplying power 'to that lateral pair ofwheels which is on the'side ofthe vehicleopposite to that to which it isdesired to turn the vehicle, the turning,bei-ng-.accom plish'ed throughthe relative over-running,- by the pair of wheels to which power isapiplied, of theother pair of wheels, the diiference in the lengtliwofthe various. paths of movement in excess of that" predetermined by, v

the gearing fratiosi being compensated Tifor' 'b'y clutch slippagefi-iltwillfnrther be apparent gh the 5 J operation of the clutches is carrieddescription-it win na 4. In an automotive vehicle, front and rear;

that by virtue of the facts that each lateral pairof Wheels ispositively driven and that each transversepair of Wheels maybepositively driven, liability to skidding or slipping is largelyobviated.

1 Having thus described my inventionv and illustrated its use, What Iclaim as neW and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the following 1.In an automotive vehicle, drivingmechanism including pairs of front andrear traction Wheels, an axle for one pair of Wheels, and gearing forpositively driving the several Wheels in unison,a prime mover and asingle propeller shaft for driving the said gearing.

simultaneously directly from said prime mover and indirectly throughsaid axle.

2. In an automobile vehicle, n combination, front and rear Wheels,divided front and rear axles for supporting said front and rear Wheels,differential gearing for driving said rear axle, means connecting thefront and rear I, axles for causing the same to revolve at the samespeed, and auxiliary means positively and directly driving oneportion ofeach of said axles through said connecting means.

3. In an automobile vehicle, in combination, front and rear Wheels,dividedfront and rear axles for supporting said front and rear wheels,difierential gearing for driving said rear axle, means connecting thefront and rear axles for causing the same to revolve at the same speed,and auxiliary means'including rclutch elements for positively and'directly driving one portion of each of said axles through saidconnecting means.

Wheels, divided axles for supporting said front and rear Wheels, aprimemover, means connecting said axles for driving the same in unison,a differential gearing for said axle actuated by said prime mover, anauxiliary drivingmechanism, including a clutch mech-- anism, actuatedfrom saidiprime mover for driving. the several parts ofthe divided axlesdirectly through said connecting means independently of the differentialgea-ring,;and

' compensating gearingincluding means for deceleratin the speed of onepart and accelerating the speed of the other part whereby the speed ofthe decelerated part is in directratio to the accelerated speed of theother part.

5. In automobile vehicle, in combination, front and rear Wheels, andmeans for connecting said Wheels for drivingthe same in unison, apropeller shaft driving the rear Wheels,

through a differential connected to one pair of wheels, andauxiliarydriving means di-' rectly connecting said propeller'shaft withsaid connecting means for driving said Wheels independently of saiddifierential.

'6. In an automobile vehicle, incoinbinzjitioii, front and rearWheels,,arid connecting means for sa d WhBGlS for driving the same inunison, divided,axles for supporting said tween the prime mover and thefront and rearwheels, a prime mover, a differtial gearing for one ofsaid'axles actuated by;

said prime mover, and anauxiliar'y driving mechanism, including a clutchmechainsm, actuated from said-prime. mover for driving the several partsof allof said divided, axles independently of said difierentia-lgearing,

said auxiliary drive ,adaptedtoact ,oneither of the'parts' ofieachofsai'd divided axles through said, connecting means independently ofthe other parts.

7. In an automotive vehicle, front and rear Wheels, divided front andrear axles, a prime mover, driving connections 7 which include clutchmechanisms severally arranged besteering Wheel connected to all of saidclutch mechanisms f r operating said clutch mechanisms in alternation.

8. In an-automobile vehicle, in combination, front and rear dividedaxles having pairs axles, and a a of WllQBlS supported thereon, a primemover,

apropeller shaft connected to the 'sectionsiof one of said axles throughdifferential ratio gearing, a. positive means connecting thecomplemental vsections of said axles, a clutch mechanism associatedtherewith, and gearing f' connecting'said propeller shaft with saidmeans for independently driving the axles of upon actuation of saidclutches.

9. In an automotive vehicle, driving Wheels adjacent to thesides of thevehic.1e,-a steering device, live'shaftsfor said lateral pairs of wheelsat different speeds Wheels independently and jointly operabledifferential and compensatory gearing drivtWo: pairs of" I ingsaiddriving Wheels, and means actuated by and associated With thesteering device for" positively connecting and disconnecting saidcompensatory gearing with one or the other the sainedir'e'ctly throughsaid live shafts irrespective of said differential gearing.

1.0. In an automotive vehicl'e,'tWo pairs of driving Wheels adjacent tothe sides'of the vehicle, a. steering device, independently pensatorygearing driving I of driving Wheels uponactuation of said steeringdevice,"aiid means-for normally positively connecting said steeringelements for I i driving'the same in unison 1'1. In'an automotiveveh'cle, a propeller shaft, front and rear pairs of traction Wheels,

a live shaft. arranged transversely ofthe ve- 9 hic-le and carrying apair of saidwheels, speed ,j i

changegearing for driving said live shaft from saidpropeller shaftatapredetermined ratio of speed with respect to said propeller shaft,and auxiliary means for positively 1 driving said; other pair of h eelsfrom said propeller shaft 7 directlyand positively to 105 of said pairsof driving Wheels for driving through said live shaft irrespective ofsaid gearing. V

12. In an automotive vehicle, a propellershaft, front and rear pairs oftraction wheels, :adflferentml live shaft arranged transversely ofthe:vehicle and carryin a pair of said heels; speed' c'hange gearing for drving said differential shaft at a predeterminedrw tio of speed withrespect to said propeller shaft, saidjlive shaft composed-of two sec-"lava-ewes tions, gears splined to each section, auxiliary gear splinedon said propeller shaft,clutches on said auxiliary shafts, means on,said clutches operativelyengaging saidispur gear.

In! testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name. I WILLIAM T;JAMES.

